Hope principal in Carlsbad to head small Silicon Valley school district

CARLSBAD -- Hope Elementary School Principal Bob Chrisman is
leaving Carlsbad Unified School District after five years to work
as superintendent and principal of a small school district in
Silicon Valley.

Starting July 1, the 59-year-old Chrisman will serve double duty
for the single-school Lakeside Joint School District as district
superintendent and principal of Lakeside Elementary, a school of 80
students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Although Lakeside is
a district serving kindergarten through eighth grade, students in
sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders attend a middle school in a
neighboring district, Chrisman said.

"It's the perfect environment for a person who has interests in
the administrative and education arenas," said Chrisman on
Wednesday from the office he's occupied since 2001. Chrisman said
he will still deal directly with students as principal. As
superintendent, he said he will help set district policy and have
the opportunity to be involved in state education policy matters
too.

"It's the epitome of the hands-on environment -- kids and
policy," Chrisman said.

The district serves about 1,500 residents of the mountain
community of Los Gatos in the affluent Silicon Valley about 45
minutes south of San Francisco, Chrisman said.

"I'm getting a raise, but I'll miss the affordable housing in
San Diego," Chrisman quipped, noting that a 1,400-square-foot house
in the San Francisco area costs about $1 million.

"We'll probably settle for something less than that," he
said.

An educator of 35 years, Chrisman said this dual assignment will
be his third such duty. He served as superintendent/principal for a
small district in Kern County and most recently in the same
position in the Dehesa School District in El Cajon.

Chrisman earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from Cal
State University Stanislaus, and his teaching credential and a
graduate degree in counseling from Cal State University Fresno. He
taught for five years before going into high school counseling, and
from there into school administration.

Chrisman said he enjoys working with students and with teachers,
and believes "in helping people be the best they can be through
relationships."

"I've tried to run Hope by taking people where they are and
building from there," he said.

"He has been a real advocate for all students and really
supported the full inclusion model (for special education students
in regular day classes) and strong advocate for special needs
students," said Torrie Norton, the district's associate
superintendent of personnel.

Teachers in the staff lounge at Hope on Wednesday described
Chrisman as kid-friendly and a great supporter of special
education, the arts, and teacher initiatives.

"If you ever need anything, he's got it for you the next day,"
said Nicola Woods, who teaches a special day class for severely
handicapped students.

And Chrisman, who said he's got a "nail gun and tool belt alter
ego," is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get dirty.

"He put up my whiteboard this summer," said first-grade teacher
Phyllis Brady. "He brought in his tools and put it up."

Leslie Vollmer, a second-grade teacher and the school's art
coordinator, noted that Hope is the only elementary school in the
district with programs in art, music and dance. Vollmer said
Chrisman was "100 percent" behind a 40-foot mural painted by
students last week.